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Originally posted by whodey1. the problem with conservatives are that they really don't support much of anything -- all you get is a list of all the reasons why this or that idea is impossible -- they offer nothing inspiring.
Cap and trade is a conservative concept? How is it a conservative concept when NO conservatives I know support it? Conservatives for the most part question the whole concept of global warming, which is still open for debate, as well as the notion we should gradually make energy unaffordable as the solution to an unprovable problem which is that fossil fuels lean never ending source of safe clean energy. In the meantime, however, we can go nuclear.
2. some liberals do freak out too much about how fossil fuels "will destroy the planet" -- but it's also a mistake to do nothing and wait until there's a major crisis before we do something. It's sort of like those old Fram oil filter commercials -- "you can pay me now, or you can pay me later" -- and usually when there's a major crisis, everyone freaks out and Congress passes a lot of panic legislation with little time given to rational debate (the current financial crisis being a case in point). In the case of fossil fuels, there are a number of good reasons to have concerns - it is not yet a crisis - we don't need to panic - but we do need to act.
3. yes - cap and trade is a tax that will drag down the economy -- IF it's implemented too quickly or too excessively -- but conservatives are usually very optimistic about America's ability to innovate and in the ability of entrepreneurs to turn new ideas into profitable businesses. On this, I agree with them - look at computers and the internet. A policy that promises to make fossil fuels more expensive in the future will inspire a lot of innovation in alternatives and conservation -- I believe these innovations will offset the most or all of the increased costs of the tax. I do agree with you on nuclear power - I suspect it is likely to be a major basis for many of these innovations
4. In the short term, you can cut other taxes to offset the additional costs imposed on the economy by the cap and trade system -- so the economy need not be strangled by this.
5. will Americans have to dramatically change their lives? -- possibly -- then again, maybe someone will find a way to produce cars that get 400 mpg and electrical appliances that are similarly superefficient -- so we might be able to maintain the current "American way". On the other hand, many Americans might find they like mass transit and urban lifestyles - especially once the innovators have done all sorts of exciting things with the idea - they'll wonder why they used to have to drive 6 miles just to buy groceries.
6. Perhaps cap and trade isn't the best idea -- maybe they're better ones -- the GOP and conservatives need to find those ideas and get them into the debate.